SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING LEAKS

• US 20140288858A1
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Pressure Testing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Pressure Testing, LLC
• Inventors: FRANKLIN, Charles M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,031,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements

Abstract

A method includes receiving a result of a benchmark leak detection test for a pressure system and determining whether the result indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system. In response to the result of the benchmark leak detection test indicating that a leak is not present in the pressure system, the method includes performing a subsequent leak detection test for the pressure system, comparing a result of the subsequent leak detection test to the result of the benchmark leak detection test, and determining, based on the comparison, whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system. A time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the comparison is less than a time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the benchmark leak detection test.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a result of a benchmark leak detection test for a pressure system;

determining whether the result indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system;

in response to the result of the benchmark leak detection test indicating that a leak is not present in the pressure system, performing a subsequent leak detection test for the pressure system;

comparing a result of the subsequent leak detection test to the result of the benchmark leak detection test;

determining, based on the comparison, whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system;

wherein a time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the comparison is less than a time to determine whether a leak is not present based on the benchmark leak detection test.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the result of the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present if a leak detection value is below a leak threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein comparing further comprises comparing a leak detection value of the benchmark leak detection test to a leak detection value of the subsequent leak detection test.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein determining whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system further comprises:

entering a passing state in response to a difference of the leak detection values being within a predetermined threshold;

remaining in the passing state as long as the difference is within the predetermined threshold; and

generating a passing indication as a result of remaining in the passing state for at least a predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the result of the benchmark leak detection test comprises a pressure slope value;

the result of the subsequent leak detection test comprises a pressure slope value; and

comparing further comprises comparing the pressure slope value of the benchmark leak detection test to the pressure slope value of the subsequent leak detection test.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the slope of either test is determined by performing a two-point evaluation on pressure data, applying a linear regression to pressure data, or fitting a curve to the pressure data and calculating a derivative of the curve.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein determining whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system further comprises:

entering a passing state in response to a difference of the pressure slope values being within a predetermined threshold;

remaining in the passing state as long as the difference is within the predetermined threshold; and

generating a passing indication as a result of remaining in the passing state for at least a predetermined time period.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on a computer display a result of the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the result of the comparison is displayed as a time-based chart.

10. A system, comprising:

a pressure sensor coupled to a pressure system, the pressure sensor to generate data indicative of a pressure value of the pressure system; and

a computing device coupled to the pressure sensor and comprising a processor to execute a leak detection program and memory to store pressure data of the pressure system as a function of time, wherein the leak detection program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

determine whether a result of a benchmark leak detection test for the pressure system indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system;

in response to the result of the benchmark leak detection test indicating that a leak is not present in the pressure system, compare a result of a subsequent leak detection test to the result of the benchmark leak detection test; and

determine, based on the comparison, whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system;

wherein a time to determine whether a leak is present based on the comparison is less than a time to determine whether a leak is present based on the benchmark leak detection test.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the result of either leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present if a leak detection value is below a leak threshold.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further caused to compare a leak detection value of the benchmark leak detection test to a leak detection value of the subsequent leak detection test.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein when the processor determines whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system, the processor further:

enters a passing state in response to a difference of the leak detection values being within a predetermined threshold;

remains in the passing state as long as the difference is within the predetermined threshold; and

generates a passing indication as a result of remaining in the passing state for at least a predetermined time period.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein:

the result of the benchmark leak detection test comprises a pressure slope value;

the result of the subsequent leak detection test comprises a pressure slope value; and

the processor is further caused to compare the pressure slope value of the benchmark leak detection test to the pressure slope value of the subsequent leak detection test.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the slope of either test is determined by performing a two-point evaluation on pressure data, applying a linear regression to pressure data, or fitting a curve to the pressure data and calculating a derivative of the curve.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein when the processor determines whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is not present in the pressure system, the processor further:

enters a passing state in response to a difference of the pressure slope values being within a predetermined threshold;

remains in the passing state as long as the difference is within the predetermined threshold; and

generates a passing indication as a result of remaining in the passing state for at least a predetermined time period.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a computer display configured to display a result of the comparison.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the result of the comparison is displayed as a time-based chart.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether a result of a benchmark leak detection test for a pressure system indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system;

in response to the result of the benchmark leak detection test indicating that a leak is not present in the pressure system, compare a result of a subsequent leak detection test to the result of the benchmark leak detection test; and

determine, based on the comparison, whether the subsequent leak detection test indicates that a leak is present in the pressure system;

wherein a time to determine whether a leak is present based on the comparison is less than a time to determine whether a leak is present based on the benchmark leak detection test.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein:

the result of the benchmark leak detection test comprises a pressure slope value;

the result of the subsequent leak detection test comprises a pressure slope value; and

the processor is further caused to compare the pressure slope value of the benchmark leak detection test to the pressure slope value of the subsequent leak detection test.